Previously: Iris confessed, Stumpy lied, and I got fed up.
Sofie is lying awake in bed listening to a record. The camera moves up a little so that we can see past Sofie, and boo! Apollonia is lying in bed to her. Eek. Sofie rolls over, sees her mother, and scrambles out of bed, gasping. Sofie runs out of the trailer.
The Carnivle gang has apparently spent all day packing up, and is finally ready to roll out into the night. Ben finishes securing his truck, and then sees Sofie sitting in the cab. He asks, "You riding with me?" Sofie nods shakily. Ben gets in and is about to start the engine when Sofie says, "Don't. Let's just let 'em go," as the caravan starts to pull away. Ben snickers, but then Sofie says she's serious. Ben finally says, "There's something I need to do. Somethin' out that way." He looks nice here. I think he looks better in the nighttime shots because all the shadows make his head look less Cro-Magnon. He's not ugly, exactly, but he is a little odd-looking. And, of course, darkness also hides the grime. Sofie looks sad and mutters, "We could've gone anywhere." Ben starts up the truck, and off they go.
Casa de Creepy. Brother Justin is having a good-night chat with Balthus, who's in bed. Justin grumbles about how willful Iris is: "She shows absolutely no remorse. Only arrogance and hubris. It is unseemly." He sits on the edge of Balthus's bed and sighs that Iris devoted her life to Brother Justin. He takes Balthus's hand as he says, "Late at night I lie awake, and I struggle with the path I have chosen." He repeats, "I am a man of God," and says that redemption comes through sacrifice. "She must learn," he concludes, and gets up from the bed, kisses Balthus on the cheek, and exits. Once Justin is gone, Balthus turns his head to look after Justin, and sighs silently. I wonder if this will be like Spike on Season 2 of Buffy. I hope it winds up with Balthus and Ben claiming to be in a band together.
Lila is riding with the Cooch family as they play a variation on twenty questions. Libby tries to guess what person Stumpy is pretending to be. Rita Sue quietly asks Stumpy why he hasn't gotten his gambling winnings yet. Stumpy insists that he'll get the money on Monday. Rita Sue pretends to join in the game and asks, "Are you a famous liar?" Heh. Stumpy says he can't think of any famous liars. Rita Sue sniffs, "No? I can."
Sofie asks Ben why he needs to go with the Carnivle. Ben explains that he's trying to find his father. Exhausted from the strain of trying to talk about someone else's problems for more than ten seconds, Sofie says, "If I met my father, I'd kill him dead." Ben stares, because what is there to say to that? Sofie adds, "He raped my ma. That's why she hates me." Ben asks Sofie, "How could anybody hate you?" which seems to be widely regarded as one of the funniest things ever said on the show.
“ Samson snaps, 'Well, what are we supposed to do, just keep going? We've got a code.' Actually, it's more like a guideline. ”
The sun rises as the caravan moves on. And on. And on. In the lead truck, Jonesy says, "What the hell?" and slows down. Samson wakes up and immediately starts to complain, but then opens his eyes. Approaching them is another caravan. And this one's got an elephant! Samson gasps, "Shit's Christmas." The captioning said "Shit Christmas," but I heard more sibilance in there, and I think my version makes marginally more sense, so I'm going with it.
The second caravan features the aforementioned elephant hauling a trailer. A black man, wearing some kind of "African savage" costume, is leading the elephant. There also people walking along with the trucks, including a half-man, half-woman (hereafter, "the he-she") who is rather improbably marching along the road in full costume. I know there was a fire, but I'm still skeptical about that. The two caravans begin to pass each other.
Jonesy pulls to a stop and asks a truckload of people what happened. Various new carnies explain that the Daily Brothers burned down their own show for the insurance. The "African Savage" dude strolls up and asks if Samson's in the truck. Samson helpfully identifies him as Charlie Lewis, and shakes his hand. Charlie explains that most of the carnies scattered after the fire, and the ones who stayed have "a few busted trucks and maybe $13 in change between us." He adds, "Damn but ain't it a lucky thing you come by." Samson and Jonesy trade looks.
At the tail end of the caravan, Ben says he's going to go see what's happening. I think he's probably just eager to get out and talk to someone friendlier than Sofie. Like maybe Hitler. Sofie says she'll wait in the truck.
Jonesy begins ordering everyone around as he has all the trucks pull off into a field and form a circle. He orders his own crew to "set up the cook tent and maybe one of the other tops." Samson strolls along past the hubbub and hears a woman say, "Hey, Stitch." He looks up and sees a blonde talking to him through the window of her trailer. She's got Scorpion-Girl hands, and terrifying collagen lips. Samson continues to be a good friend to recappers when he identifies her as Sabina. Sabina asks if Samson's going to just leave them, and Samson sniffs, "Well, what does it look like?" Then he walks on, with a slightly terrified expression. Heh. As he moves on, he runs into Ben, who complains that they were planning to be in Damascus that night. Samson snaps, "Well, what are we supposed to do, just keep going? We've got a code." Actually, it's more like a guideline.
Sofie is in the truck, staring at yet another magazine she has plucked out of the ether. Maybe that's her magic power. She's also playing with a lighter, but stops when she hears quiet sobs. In the truck's side mirror, she sees a girl standing in the road, looking back the way they came. Sofie gets out of the truck and calls, "You okay?" She gets no response, and walks over to the girl, who is holding a beat-up doll by one arm. As she gets close, the girl suddenly turns. Her hair is cut like Sofie's, and her eyes are black as she says "Every prophet in her house," in Apollonia's voice. Sofie gasps, "Mother..." and backs away in terror. Then she backs right into Ben, whirls around, and sees that the little girl is gone. Ben explains that they're camping where they are, and mentions that there was a fire. Sofie asks, "Did anybody die?" Ben says no. Sofie looks disappointed, and gets back in the truck. Ben points out, "You might be more comfortable in your trailer." Sofie says she'll stay where she is. Ben rather apologetically says that he has to go help, and asks if Sofie's okay. Sofie shakily lights a cigarette and says that she'll be fine.
Iris is in her room, praying. She appears to have smashed a mirror on the floor, and is now kneeling on the bits of broken glass. Okay. She begs for deliverance: "Let them be ashamed and confounded, those who seek to take my soul. Let them be turned backward in confusion, those that desire my hurt." Apparently, being Justin's sister is like being in high school for eternity. And isn't that a terrifying thought? She sobs and goes on that way while the camera pans down to show blood soaking the edges of her nightgown where she's kneeling.
The carnies eat. The He-She notes that the Carnivle seems to be doing pretty well, and says that the Daily Brothers had a hard summer. Remember that later. He trails after Samson as he mentions hearing that the Carnivle lost some acts. Samson finally asks, "You lookin' to hook up with us?" Gabe (Hi, Gabe!) and the Cooch family eavesdrop as the He-She admits, "We might be persuaded." Samson snaps, "Forget it." The He-She promptly turns and introduces himself to someone as "Bert Hagenbeck." Stumpy whispers to Samson that Bert is "the worst damn He-She I ever did see." Samson chuckles, "Did you ever see a good one?"
Ben brings Sofie some food and a soda. Sofie thanks him, and then tells Ben that he doesn't have to keep her company. Ben says that he doesn't mind hanging out with her, and I wonder if the point of all of his creepy encounters with relatives and pedophiles was to make Sofie seem like relatively pleasant company. He gripes about stopping for a day. Sofie asks what the hurry is, and adds, "It's not like you really know where your father is." Ben says he's pretty sure his dad's in Damascus. Sofie says, "You know what's in Damascus? A whole lotta pig shit and no one to shovel it." She's a charmer. After a minute, she asks what difference it will make if Ben finds his father: "People like you and me, we don't have nice little families." Ben says he knows, but that he still has to find his dad. Sofie grumbles that she's leaving the Carnivle. She adds, "You could come with me. I don't care what you say, you don't belong here -- no more than I do." Ben says "It's just my lot." Sofie says that it doesn't have to be, but Ben says that it does.
“ Ben and Sofie stare at the lights of the big top. Ben notes that it sounds like a party's going on, and asks Sofie if she wants to go check it out. Wow, something about visions of nukes going off made him turn nice. It's peculiar, but sort of refreshing. ”
Casa de Creepy. Dolan is jubilantly going over the plans for tonight's sermon. He tells Justin, "I've contacted the County Prosecutor. He'll be there personally." After a moment, Dolan apologizes: "I know this must be very difficult for you." Justin says that it is, but that his ministry comes first. Dolan adds that Iris will be okay: "They don't hang women in California." Justin smiles tightly and nods. I rather think Justin needs someone to hang, Dolan. Because if that line wasn't important, we'd have just had another thirty seconds of staring instead.
Night has fallen. They're really getting their money's worth out of the elephant. It strides by a tent, and then we cut inside, where the carnies are starting to party. Lila trades gossip with the Fat Lady from the Daily Brothers troupe. They also pass around a joint.
Rita Sue is at a table outside with Bert and Sabina. Rita Sue explains her plan to buy an alligator farm in Florida. They discuss the various profits to be had, and Rita Sue says, "Gator milk has twice the vitamins and minerals as cow milk." Bert hears a song playing and goes inside to dance with Sabina. Rita Sue gulps down some booze and gets up.
Libby guzzles her own drink and watches the various carnies and freaks dancing. Burley wanders up and asks Libby to dance, but she shakes her head. Burley snarls, "I forgot..." and starts throwing coins at her as he asks how much for a dance: "I mean, with your clothes on." Libby tells Burley to leave her alone, and Jonesy watches with some concern. Burley tries to haul Libby up forcibly, and Libby protests, attracting Rita Sue's attention. Jonesy tells Burley to back off. Burley says, "Fuck you," and Jonesy slugs him. He asks some carnies to haul Burley out, which they do. Jonesy makes sure Libby's okay, and then says, "I ain't much for dancing," but puts out his hand. Lila rather sympathetically hands Rita Sue a drink as Libby and Jonesy start dancing.
From the truck, Ben and Sofie stare at the lights of the big top. Ben notes that it sounds like a party's going on, and asks Sofie if she wants to go check it out. Wow, something about visions of nukes going off made him turn nice. It's peculiar, but sort of refreshing. Sofie says she feels safer where she is, sitting in a truck in the middle of nowhere surrounded by darkness. It'd make more sense if the visions of Apollonia happened when she was around other people, but since they've always happened when she's alone, you'd think she'd want to be in a crowd. But Dan Knauf himself has assured us that the characters behave logically, so I must just be confused. Sofie encourages Ben to go check out the party. Ben doesn't move.
“ So either up until now Nick Stahl's succeeded brilliantly at hiding how likable he is, or they suddenly asked him to try to be charming, and he succeeded brilliantly at faking it. ”
A record plays as Rita Sue dances with Stumpy. She suggests that maybe they could use his winnings to buy a place in Florida. Stumpy agrees, "Put in a down payment, buy a new car, get you some new clothes...or a trip to Niagara Falls." Rita Sue happily asks how much money it'll be again. Stumpy says, "$1400." Rita Sue asks, "I thought you said it was $1200." Stumpy sticks to the latest figure. Rita Sue dances, looking sadder and sadder. Poor Rita Sue. I told you not to give him the money.
Ben and Sofie hear the distant strains of the music from the truck. Ben suddenly hops out and opens Sofie's door, saying, "You can't stay in this truck all night." He takes Sofie's hand and starts to lead her toward the tent, but after a few steps Sofie pulls back and says, "I can't." Ben insists that she can: "Me, I ain't no Fred Astaire, but I like this song." I think Nick Stahl is a pretty good actor, because he's quite charming here. So either up until now he's succeeded brilliantly at hiding how likable he is, or they suddenly asked him to try to be charming, and he succeeded brilliantly at faking it. Which only leaves the question of why they didn't ask him to be charming before now. Anyway, Sofie admits that she likes the song, too, and Ben takes her hand again and starts dancing with her in the road. They just sort of lean back and forth together, but it's nice in that fumbling junior-high-social way. Except that we can once again see how filthy they both are in the lights from the tent.
Casa de Creepy. Iris looks down at the Tent of Jericho, and the surrounding Shantyburg. Brother Justin walks up to her and joins in her staring. Iris suddenly says, "I'm sorry, Alexi. I can't give you what you want." Justin growls, "What is it that you think I want?" Iris says, "Remorse. Regret." Her voice lowers as she says, "And I would do it again for you." They return to their staring. Iris half-laughs, "Oh, isn't it beautiful?"
Stumpy wanders off from the big top and takes a leak. The elephant wanders up to him. Eventually Stumpy notices it, and slurs, "Hi, elephant. How you doin'?" I'm not sure that any amount of alcohol could keep you from smelling an elephant when it was still yards away. Well, unless you inhaled the alcohol. Which I don't recommend. Stumpy is distracted by Rita Sue's voice nearby, and goes to investigate.